The Evil Link Between Communism and Atheism

Karl Marx said "[Religion] is the opium of the people".[18] Marx also stated: "Communism begins from the outset (Owen) with atheism; but atheism is at first far from being communism; indeed, that atheism is still mostly an abstraction."[19]

Vladimir Lenin similarly wrote regarding atheism and communism: "A Marxist must be a materialist, i. e., an enemy of religion, but a dialectical materialist, i. e., one who treats the struggle against religion not in an abstract way, not on the basis of remote, purely theoretical, never varying preaching, but in a concrete way, on the basis of the class struggle which is going on in practice and is educating the masses more and better than anything else could."[20]

The atheism in communist regimes has been and continues to be militant atheism and various acts of repression including the razing of thousands of religious buildings and the killing, imprisoning, and oppression of religious leaders and believers.In the atheistic and communist Soviet Union, 44 anti religious museums were opened and the largest was the 'The Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism' in Leningrad’s Kazan cathedral. Despite intense effort by the atheistic leaders of the Soviet Union, their efforts were not effective in converting the masses to atheism.

China is a communist country that is also officially atheistic. In 1999, the publication Christian Century reported that "China has persecuted religious believers by means of "harassment, prolonged detention, and incarceration in prison or `reform-through-labor' camps and police closure of places of worship." In 2003, owners of Bibles in China were sent to prison camps and 125 Chinese churches were closed. China continues to practice religious oppression today. According to Asian Economic News, in 2004 the atheistic and communist government of China had an internal document which directed the Chinese media to promote atheism, instructed internet media to remove user comments that advocate alternative spiritual views, and called for a ban on publications that disseminate religious material out of step with Marxism or atheism. The efforts of China's atheist leaders in promoting atheism, however, is increasing losing its effectiveness and the number of Christians in China is explosively growing.

North Korea is a repressive communist state and is officially atheistic. The North Korean government practices brutal repression and atrocities against North Korean Christians.Trofim Denisovich Lysenko

It has been estimated that in less than the past 100 years, governments under the banner of communism have caused the death of somewhere between 40,472,000 to 259,432,000 human lives. Dr. R. J. Rummel, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii, is the scholar who first coined the term democide (death by government). Dr. R. J. Rummel's mid estimate regarding the loss of life due to communism is that communism caused the death of approximately 110,286,000 people between 1917 and 1987.[41]

The theory of evolution played a prominent role in regards to atheistic communism.[42]http://creation. com/the-darwinian-foundation-o f-communism</ref> Communists, in particular Stalinists, favored a version of Lamarckism called Lysenkoism developed by the atheist Trofim Denisovich Lysenko. Lysenko was made member of the Supreme Soviet and head of the Institute of Genetics of the Soviet Academy of Sciences.Later Lysenko became President of the All-Union Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Many geneticists were imprisoned and executed for their bourgeois science, and agricultural policies based on Lysenkoism that were adopted under Stalin and Mao caused famines and the death of millions.

Christian apologist Gregory Koukl wrote relative to atheism and mass murder that "the assertion is that religion has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world. There are people who make accusations and assertions that are empirically false. This is one of them."[48] Koukl details the number of people killed in various events involving theism and compares them to the much higher tens of millions of people killed under regimes which advocated atheism.[48]

Koukl summarized by stating:“ It is true that it's possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We're talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.[48]”Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Nobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was asked to account for the great tragedies that occurred under the brutal communist regime he and fellow citizens suffered under.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn stated the following in relation to atheism:“ Over a half century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of old people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.

Since then I have spend well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened."

Christian apologist Gregory Koukl wrote relative to atheism and mass murder that "the assertion is that religion has caused most of the killing and bloodshed in the world. There are people who make accusations and assertions that are empirically false. This is one of them."[48] Koukl details the number of people killed in various events involving theism and compares them to the much higher tens of millions of people killed under regimes which advocated atheism.[48]Koukl summarized by stating:“ It is true that it's possible that religion can produce evil, and generally when we look closer at the detail it produces evil because the individual people are actually living in a rejection of the tenets of Christianity and a rejection of the God that they are supposed to be following. So it can produce it, but the historical fact is that outright rejection of God and institutionalizing of atheism actually does produce evil on incredible levels. We're talking about tens of millions of people as a result of the rejection of God.[48]”Aleksandr SolzhenitsynNobel Prize winner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was asked to account for the great tragedies that occurred under the brutal communist regime he and fellow citizens suffered under.Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn stated the following in relation to atheism:“ Over a half century ago, while I was still a child, I recall hearing a number of old people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.Since then I have spend well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our revolution; in the process I have read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and have already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: "Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened."

I think cummunism is closer to christianity than atheism. Both demand blind obedience to their belief system, Both punish those who dispute their version of reality. Both have a history of killing in the name of their belief in anyone who disputes the truth of their beliefs. Atheists, on the other hand, speak out against all dogma that keeps people on their knees. ATHEISTS DO NOT WORSHIP THE STATE OR GOD. No, true atheists are not welcome in any state built around a cult, wheather it is a communist state or a theocrasy. Why exchange one devil for another?

<quoted text>I think cummunism is closer to christianity than atheism. Both demand blind obedience to their belief system, Both punish those who dispute their version of reality. Both have a history of killing in the name of their belief in anyone who disputes the truth of their beliefs. Atheists, on the other hand, speak out against all dogma that keeps people on their knees. ATHEISTS DO NOT WORSHIP THE STATE OR GOD. No, true atheists are not welcome in any state built around a cult, wheather it is a communist state or a theocrasy. Why exchange one devil for another?

Exactly religion[or lack thereof] is not always to blame for the vices in the world,Atheists are as fallible to doctrines of oppression as the Religious are and Communism is a perfect example of this.There is not point in pretending Atheists have some sort of moral high ground over believers,to do so is to be guilty of the same faulty logic Christian Fundamentalists exhibit.Atheists are as fallible as Christians are,and during the Cold War it was the majority of the worlds Atheists whom fell for the doctrine of Communism.

conservapedia:is an English-language wiki-based Web encyclopedia project written from an Americentric, conservative Christian and predominantly young earth creationist point of view. Conservapedia is one of many conservative and Christian-themed Web sites imitating the format of mainstream sites to provide a right-wing or fundamentalist Christian alternative.[3][6] The site has been the subject of criticism, both inside and outside of the United States, for bias and inaccuracies.

Thomas Eugene Flanagan, a conservative professor of political science at the University of Calgary, has argued that Conservapedia is more about religion, specifically Christianity, than conservatism and that it "is far more guilty of the crime they're attributing to Wikipedia" than Wikipedia itself.

Lord Whiteman used conservapedia to write his opener to this thread.conservapedia:is an English-language wiki-based Web encyclopedia project written from an Americentric, conservative Christian and predominantly young earth creationist point of view.Conservapedia is one of many conservative and Christian-themed Web sites imitating the format of mainstream sites to provide a right-wing or fundamentalist Christian alternative.[3][6] The site has been the subject of criticism, both inside and outside of the United States, for bias and inaccuracies.Thomas Eugene Flanagan, a conservative professor of political science at the University of Calgary, has argued that Conservapedia is more about religion, specifically Christianity, than conservatism and that it "is far more guilty of the crime they're attributing to Wikipedia" than Wikipedia itself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_C..."After the Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks undertook a massive program to remove the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church from the government and Russian society, and to make the state atheist. Tens of thousands of churches were destroyed or converted to other uses, and many members of clergy were imprisoned for anti-government activities. An extensive education and propaganda campaign was undertaken to convince people, especially the children and youth, to abandon religious beliefs. This persecution resulted in the martyrdom of millions of Orthodox followers in the 20th century by the Soviet Union, whether intentional or not."

"It is estimated that 21 million Russian Orthodox Christians were martyred in the gulags by the Soviet government, not including torture or other Christian denominations killed"

Wikipedia says much the same about communism and its practice of state Atheism.Conservapedia just pours a little more salt on the wounds.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheismState atheism has been defined as the official promotion of atheism by a government, typically by active suppression of religious freedom and practice.[1] As a strict rule (a period in Revolutionary France being a possible exception), only Marxist governments have ever sought to promote atheism as a public norm, and as a rule in accordance with the doctrine of dialectical materialism. State atheism has been implemented in communist countries, such as the former Soviet Union,[2] China, Cuba, Communist Albania, and Communist Mongolia under communist rule also promoted state atheism and attempted to suppress religion

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S tate_atheismState atheism has been defined as the official promotion of atheism by a government, typically by active suppression of religious freedom and practice.[1] As a strict rule (a period in Revolutionary France being a possible exception), only Marxist governments have ever sought to promote atheism as a public norm, and as a rule in accordance with the doctrine of dialectical materialism. State atheism has been implemented in communist countries, such as the former Soviet Union,[2] China, Cuba, Communist Albania, and Communist Mongolia under communist rule also promoted state atheism and attempted to suppress religion

Well a democracy is not going to impose beliefs is it?

Atheism is just a lack of belief in the existence of God/s.It has nothing to say about anything else.

Some people have tried to replace religion with some absolute political ideology, but that's just goes against human nature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S tate_atheismState atheism has been defined as the official promotion of atheism by a government, typically by active suppression of religious freedom and practice.[1] As a strict rule (a period in Revolutionary France being a possible exception), only Marxist governments have ever sought to promote atheism as a public norm, and as a rule in accordance with the doctrine of dialectical materialism. State atheism has been implemented in communist countries, such as the former Soviet Union,[2] China, Cuba, Communist Albania, and Communist Mongolia under communist rule also promoted state atheism and attempted to suppress religion

Communist Government perceive religious gatherings as a challenge to their authority, a threat to public order, and an alternative to socialist thought. That point should not be forgotten.

<quoted text>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_C..."After the Revolution of 1917, the Bolsheviks undertook a massive program to remove the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church from the government and Russian society, and to make the state atheist. Tens of thousands of churches were destroyed or converted to other uses, and many members of clergy were imprisoned for anti-government activities. An extensive education and propaganda campaign was undertaken to convince people, especially the children and youth, to abandon religious beliefs. This persecution resulted in the martyrdom of millions of Orthodox followers in the 20th century by the Soviet Union, whether intentional or not.""It is estimated that 21 million Russian Orthodox Christians were martyred in the gulags by the Soviet government, not including torture or other Christian denominations killed"Wikipedia says much the same about communism and its practice of state Atheism.Conservapedia just pours a little more salt on the wounds.

Upon the establishment of official ties between the state and Christianity, the state and the Church turned their considerable attention to those deemed heretics.The first nonconforming Christian executed was Priscillian. Many 4th century examples of such a situation involved Arianism,[citation needed] which held, against the orthodox tradition, that Jesus was not "one in unity with the Father", but instead was a created being, not on the same level with God, above humans but below God the Father.

In the Eastern Roman Empire Emperors were established as both Orthodox and Arian as Constantine's own sons Constantius II, Constantine II (who proceeded Constantine I) were Arian. Later still, the Emperor Valens also was an Arian. The Germanic Goths and Vandals adhered to Arian Christianity, establishing Arian states in Italy and Spain. Orthodox Christians defended themselves vigorously against these foreign Arians.

In 429 the Vandals (who were Arians) conquered Roman Africa. Catholics were discriminated against; Church property was confiscated. Thousands of Catholics were banished from Vandal held territory.[citation needed]St. Augustine, for example, died while in a town besieged by the Arian Vandals. As it was the fall of Rome to the Goths, tribes who throughout their histories, were a mix of Pagan and Arian Christians.

In the medieval period the Roman Catholic Church moved to suppress the Cathar heresy, the Pope having sanctioned a crusade against the Albigensians; during the course of which the massacre of Beziers took place, with between seven and twenty thousand deaths.(This was the occasion when the papal legate, Arnaud Amalric, asked about how Catholics could be distinguished from Cathars once the city fell, famously replied, "Kill them all, God will know His own."). Over the twenty year period of this campaign an estimated 200,000 to 1,000,000 people were killed.

This was followed by the Anti-Protestant then the Anti-Mormon killings.

<quoted text>Well a democracy is not going to impose beliefs is it?Atheism is just a lack of belief in the existence of God/s.It has nothing to say about anything else.Some people have tried to replace religion with some absolute political ideology, but that's just goes against human nature.

Very good point,Militant Atheism however might well become an "absolute political ideology"there are components of fundamentalism within militant ideology,particularly the intolerance towards religion.

<quoted text>Communist Government perceive religious gatherings as a challenge to their authority, a threat to public order, and an alternative to socialist thought. That point should not be forgotten.

Good pointAnd secular governments may view the same gatherings as a threat to their authority.

<quoted text>On the page you posted I found this.Persecution of Christians by Christians.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_C...Upon the establishment of official ties between the state and Christianity, the state and the Church turned their considerable attention to those deemed heretics.The first nonconforming Christian executed was Priscillian. Many 4th century examples of such a situation involved Arianism,[citation needed] which held, against the orthodox tradition, that Jesus was not "one in unity with the Father", but instead was a created being, not on the same level with God, above humans but below God the Father.In the Eastern Roman Empire Emperors were established as both Orthodox and Arian as Constantine's own sons Constantius II, Constantine II (who proceeded Constantine I) were Arian. Later still, the Emperor Valens also was an Arian. The Germanic Goths and Vandals adhered to Arian Christianity, establishing Arian states in Italy and Spain. Orthodox Christians defended themselves vigorously against these foreign Arians.In 429 the Vandals (who were Arians) conquered Roman Africa. Catholics were discriminated against; Church property was confiscated. Thousands of Catholics were banished from Vandal held territory.[citation needed]St. Augustine, for example, died while in a town besieged by the Arian Vandals. As it was the fall of Rome to the Goths, tribes who throughout their histories, were a mix of Pagan and Arian Christians.In the medieval period the Roman Catholic Church moved to suppress the Cathar heresy, the Pope having sanctioned a crusade against the Albigensians; during the course of which the massacre of Beziers took place, with between seven and twenty thousand deaths.(This was the occasion when the papal legate, Arnaud Amalric, asked about how Catholics could be distinguished from Cathars once the city fell, famously replied, "Kill them all, God will know His own."). Over the twenty year period of this campaign an estimated 200,000 to 1,000,000 people were killed.This was followed by the Anti-Protestant then the Anti-Mormon killings.

<quoted text>no, secular democratic governments view that as the right to free assembly of their citizenssecular government is not based around a person - like a dictator - who is going to react as a unified anythinga dictator ship reacts like a person, because there is a person driving itsecular government acts within a legislative framework and has checks and balances

<quoted text>Very good point,Militant Atheism however might well become an "absolute political ideology"there are components of fundamentalism within militant ideology,particularly the intolerance towards religion.

Just what is militant atheism? Don't tell me it is communism. Most atheists reject communism, because it is like a religion demanding that everyone believes in the state and their form of government. Religion and communism demand that all believe as the church or state be worshipped as the only way to think. An atheist only states they cannot see why they should believe in a god when there is not a shred of evidence to support that belief. The same applies to communist states. I cannot see any reason to believe only the rulers of the state should be in the total of beliefs in government by the ruling class. To me, communism is just another religion, based on state worship.

<quoted text>Just what is militant atheism? Don't tell me it is communism. Most atheists reject communism, because it is like a religion demanding that everyone believes in the state and their form of government. Religion and communism demand that all believe as the church or state be worshipped as the only way to think. An atheist only states they cannot see why they should believe in a god when there is not a shred of evidence to support that belief. The same applies to communist states. I cannot see any reason to believe only the rulers of the state should be in the total of beliefs in government by the ruling class. To me, communism is just another religion, based on state worship.

I have been labeled as a militant Atheist (what ever that means?) It seems once an Atheist is out spoken about religion or human rights they become militant. Well by that definition, Christians are very militant. The only difference is, I will not kill in the name of Atheism, I wonder how many Christians would say the same if they thought their God commanded it?

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